“When I look at Joe, I think that’s what I wish I was like when I was younger,” Garcia said, noting Neguse was student body president while at the University of Colorado, was elected to the CU board of regents when he was in law school, becoming the youngest second youngest* regent ever and was nominated by the Democratic Party for secretary of state when he was 29.

A proposed ballot initiative for the 2016 election would make daylight saving time the year-round standard in Colorado. (Photo by Joey Bunch/The Denver Post)

A proposed ballot initiative to make daylight saving time a year-round thing in Colorado takes a big step forward next week with a hearing to set the title that could appear on the 2016 ballot. First, 97,434 registered Colorado voters have to sign a petition in the next six months to make it so.

Without the twice-a-year time shift there would be no more springing forward and falling back, no more driving home in pitch black darkness at 5 o’clock, which was 6 p.m. the week before; no more waking kids for school at the crack of dawn when 6 a.m. is renamed 7 a.m.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet addresses supporters before first lady Michelle Obama speaks during rally for re-election of U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., in Denver last year. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet as a potential vice presidential pick?

It’s an interesting prospect and one floated this week by advisers to Hillary Clinton’s forthcoming 2016 campaign for the White House, per Politico’s Mike Allen.

On face value, it makes political sense. Bennet, who faces re-election in 2016, is a moderate Democrat who holds a seat in a key swing state, where President Barack Obama won twice and the party will need to do well again to keep the White House.

But one teeny-tiny problem those Clinton advisers may not have realized: To appear on the 2016 ballot as a vice presidential candidate in Colorado, Bennet would need to drop his U.S. Senate re-election bid.

According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office, a candidate cannot appear on the ballot for more than one office. A spokesman pointed to C.R.S. 1-4-501 in which paragraph 2 says:

(2) No person is eligible to be a candidate for more than one office at one time; except that this subsection (2) does not apply to memberships on different special district boards. This subsection (2) shall not prohibit a candidate or elected official of any political subdivision from being a candidate or member of the board of directors of any special district or districts in which he or she is an eligible elector, unless otherwise prohibited by law.

Not to mention, Bennet is apparently not interested in the vice presidency. “Michael Bennet is running for re-election for the Senate, period,” said Craig Hughes, a Bennet advisor. “His focus will continue to be breaking through the mess in Washington DC to find real, pragmatic solutions to help the people of Colorado.”

Congressman Ed Perlmutter, recognized as the king of retail politics in Colorado, has been named this year’s Democrat of the Year, while Joe Neguse, who waged a strong battle for secretary of state in a Republican year, has been named the party’s rising star.

Democrat Joe Neguse (The Denver Post)

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Goldem

They will receive their awards at the Colorado Democratic Party’s annual 2015 Jefferson Jackson Dinner Feb. 28 at the Marriott Denver City. Tickets are available online.

Also receiving awards are Mick Ireland of Pitkin County and Rochelle Galindo of Weld County, chosen as volunteers of the year.

Over the years, he has a developed a reputation for coming to the rescue, whether it’s a small-business man struggling to get a bank loan to keep his barbecue operation going or a widow needing help with a Social Security claim.

On the campaign trail, Perlmutter seems to know everyone. He either grew up with them or gave them legal advice, or his daughters played with their daughters on the softball teams he coached.

Neguse lost his bid for secretary of state to Republican Wayne Williams after an impressive run. Neguse won Adams and Arapahoe counties by higher margins than Mark Udall, Andrew Romanoff, Don Quick and Betsy Markey. Neguse lost to Williams, the El Paso County clerk and recorder, by 2.57 percentage points..
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State Treasurer Walker Stapleton, left, his family and Senate President Bill Cadman, right, laugh as Stapleton correctly states his middle initial while taking the oath of office Tuesday on the west steps of state Capitol in Denver. (Channel 2 KWGN)

State Treasurer Walker Stapleton is jokingly referring to himself as the Rodney Dangerfield of Colorado inaugurations after today’s activities.

The official program for the inaugural event listed Stapleton as secretary of state and Wayne Williams as the state treasurer. It’s the other way around.

And when Chief Justice Nancy Rice asked Stapleton to take the oath, she said, “Repeat after me. I, Walker P. Stapleton,” to which the treasurer said, “I Walker R. Stapleton.” That got a big laugh. (The R, BTW, is for Roberts. Maybe Rice was thinking of PERA when she said P.)

In 2011, Janessa Martinez, 8, Delaney Stout, 8, Julian Gasadosrueda, 7 and Ariel Caprioglia, 8, all of Fountain International Magnet School in Pueblo used flannel blankets to stay warm as they awaited the inauguration ceremonies of Colorado’s newest governor, Democrat John Hickenlooper. It was around 10 degrees. Their class won the Colorado Can Do contest and were able to attend the inauguration. (Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post )

Once again, Democrat John Hickenlooper probably should wear gloves when he raises his right hand to take the oath of governor.

The temperature at 11 a.m., when inaugural ceremonies begin on the west steps of the Capitol, is expected to be 31 degrees. That’s practically a heat wave compared to four years ago when Hickenlooper was sworn in for his first term.

“Four years ago we started out at 0 degrees and it got up to 9 degrees so this is lovely,” said Doug Lane with Fastland Productions, the company that has provided sound equipment and service for six inaugurations in a row.

New Colorado State Senate President Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs, presides over the Senate during the opening session of the 2015 Colorado Legislature. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Colorado lawmakers submitted their financial disclosure forms Friday, but just how much they must disclose is generating confusion.

One question, in particular, is open to interpretation. It is found on the third page of the required Personal Financial Disclosure Statement that lawmakers filed. It asks them to “list all offices, directorships and fiduciary relationships held by you, your spouse, or minor children residing with you.”

How does this work? Take, for example, new Senate President Bill Cadman’s form.

Each year Alan Franklin, the personable political director of the leading liberal group ProgressNow Colorado, keeps Republican Secretary of State Scott Gessler in his thoughts during the holidays. In each of the last three years, he’s penned his special wishes on a card he sends to Gessler, a former private practice lawyer who usually represented Republican interests. Gessler ran for governor this year instead of re-election, and in January he will back in the private sector.

So Franklin signed his Christmas card citing Gessler’s nickname: “Buh-Bye, Honey Badger!” Then he extended the courtesy to Gessler’s deputy secretary of state, Suzanne Staiert, as well.

Last year Gessler was planning to run for governor, but in June he finished third in the GOP primary. Franklin wrote, “Sending next year’s card to the Governor’s Mansion.” Ah, that’s nice. But wait for it. “Hopefully they’ll forward it to you.” Zing.

El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Wayne Williams’ turn in the Fox News spotlight has liberals and union bosses riled up. Even the host of the interview, Megyn Kelly, didn’t seem to buy Williams’ logic that one of the problems with Colorado’s mail-in ballots is that it gives union bosses in voters’ homes the chance to influence the election.

“There are some Coloradans who prefer not to get a ballot mailed to them because there might be someone in the household, a union boss, an employer, who intimidates them once they get that ballot,” Williams, the Republican nominee for secretary of state, said on Tuesday night’s “The Kelly File.”

“They would prefer to just have the ability to go into a polling place. They can go into a polling place now but if they’ve already cast that mail ballot, if someone has influenced them and they cast it already, they don’t have the ability to go into a pristine polling place in which no one can influence them.”

Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog has named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.